Twelve new orders have come into force to protect the Lake District from anti-social behaviour.
Westmorland and Furness Council and Cumbria police have come together ahead of the Easter holidays to urge people to plan ahead and enjoy the area responsibly as the new measures are introduced.
Public Space Protection Orders have been brought in under the Anti-social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act 2014 to give the council and Cumbria police a practical tool to step in where activities are negatively affecting people’s quality of life.
Following a recent public consultation launched by Westmorland and Furness Council on behalf of landowners, more than 500 responses showed overwhelming support for 12 new orders which are now in force at the tourist hotspots in the heart of the Lake District.
The 12 new orders cover an area of 13.6 million square feet, almost the same size as Windermere lake, with hundreds more orders already in place on council land.
The orders have been introduced in response to concerns raised by landowners and residents who called for action to tackle ongoing issues with anti-social behaviour linked to camping, motorhome use, wildfires, barbecues and littering, all of which can cause significant harm to the environment.
From today, the orders cover:
- Ambleside – Galava Roman Fort (owned by the National Trust)
- Ambleside – Holme Crag (owned by the National Trust)
- Blea Tarn (owned by the National Trust)
- Coniston – Brown Howe (owned by Lake District National Park)
- Coniston East Shore (owned by the National Trust)
- Haweswater Reservoir (owned by Untied Utilities)
- Hartsop – Brotherswater (owned by the National Trust)
- Ullswater – South Ullswater including Glencoyne and Aira Force (owned by National Trust)
- Ullswater – South Ullswater including Ullswater ‘Steamers’ land (owned by Lake District Estates and National Trust) and Jenkin Field in Glenridding (owned by Patterdale Parish Council)
- Ullswater – Laybys and land adjacent lake (owned by Gowbarrow Hall)
- Windermere – Bowness and Millerground including Cockshott Point (owned by National Trust)
- Windermere West Shore (owned National Trust).
Westmorland and Furness Council will carry out joint patrols of these areas with Cumbria police over two weeks, encouraging visitors to enjoy the area responsibly and leave no trace of their visit.
They said they will work together to encourage people to enjoy the area responsibly and, where needed, use the orders to address anti-social behaviour linked to camping and the inappropriate use of motorhomes, as well as environmental damage caused by littering, fires and barbecues.
They added: “The orders will not affect those enjoying the area responsibly and leaving no trace of their visit, or genuine wild campers who stay overnight in remote areas, above the highest fell away from roads and settlements.”
Those found breaching an order by causing anti-social behaviour or environmental damage could be hit with a fixed penalty notice of up to £100.
If payment of the fixed penalty notice is not made within the required timescales or the incident is serious, prosecution for the offence of failing to comply with the order may be initiated resulting in summary conviction with fines of up to £1,000 being issued by courts.
